Bulletin: January 26, 2014

10:15 AM Ranae Hanson. Hear an overview of her experience at the Quaker Earthcare Witness Steering Committee meeting in Chicago last Oct, including suggestions for how MFM and individuals could interact further with QEW. Particular attention to the fabulous presentations made by three young Friends: an African-American man from Philadelphia working on rain and water management; an European-American man from MT working on climate change in Vietnam; and a Bangladeshi-American woman from NH who identifies as a Muslim Quaker.

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. ~ Isaiah 40:31

TODAY

Would you like to help organize a MFM workshop on the Transition Movement? We have an outline of a Sat workshop to empower us toward positive actions regarding climate change. If you would like to help plan, stay for about an hour following the rise of semi-programmed worship today.

MEETING MATTERS / CALENDAR

Next week, you are welcome at the monthly Sunday potluck at 12:15. To regulars, please bring plenty of food so there will be ample to accommodate visitors and those at the end of the line. Also, please label your pot-luck item/s with ingredients or your name so those with allergies, salt restrictions, vegetarians, etc can participate.

Adult Program next Sun, Feb 2 at 10:15: Alberta Mirais (daughter of Terry) will speak: “Honoring the sacredness of life through art, whether it be with sound, paint or other medium. Communicating wordlessly and expressing ourselves freely, without shame. If the sound you make aligns with your heart, you are a musician. If the movement of your brush feels like a gesture of deep love, feels delicious and fulfilling, you are a painter. When your fingers let the voice of your pain, your ecstasy, your strength, your sorrow, flow out of them, you are an artist. Let your heart be your guide.

Also next week at 10:15, Friendly Philosophers: this open, informal group meets every first Sunday of the month, here, at 10:15 and every Thurs night, 7 PM at Bush Terrace Condos. Everyone is welcome to come – once or on a regular basis!

Jim, Kyle and Heather are exploring doing a Bible study of the Book of Acts. If interested, please come to a planning session in the middler classroom next Sun, Feb. 2nd at 10:15 to figure out details of meeting time and length.

Looking ahead: Come to storytelling Thurs evening, Feb 20th here at the meetinghouse. This informal, engaging evening – for newcomers and old-timers alike – is a delightful way to know and be known by each other. Watch for more details.

See the letter and supporting information from Duluth-Superior Friends Meeting on copper and nickel mining in Northern MN. Monthly Meeting did not feel it had time to act as a body on the pressing issue of copper-nickel mining in MN but encourages F(f)riends who are interested to access information and participate in a timely way during the public comment period. Making a comment is currently the most effective way to voice opposition to the mining. Information is also on the MFM website: minneapolisfriends.org/2014/01/17/bulletin-addendum-copper-and-nickel-mining-in-mn
**Barton Sutter, clerk of Duluth-Superior Friends Meeting will speak about his spiritual leading and discernment in taking on this issue at the Prospect Hill Friends Meeting program Sunday night, Feb 9th, at 5:00. All are invited. A potluck will follow the program. Bring something to share if you plan to stay.

Offering boxes are located on small tables near the meetingroom doors. December 31 marked the end of our third fiscal quarter. Contributions so far this fiscal year total $63,749.95. Three-quarters of our approved budget is $86,642.25. If you would like to automate your contributions, please talk to Suzanne, receiving treasurer. Thank you, Friends, for your generous support of the Meeting in all manner of ways.

OUR WIDER COMMUNITY

A Northern Yearly Meeting retreat for high school Quakers is next weekend, Jan 31-Feb 2 at Twin Cities Friends Mtg. For details or to help as a Friendly Adult Presence, contact coordinator Celeste.

Friends for a NonViolent World’s annual meeting will be Sun, Feb. 23, at 1:30 pm at Twin Cities Friends Meeting (1725 Grand Ave, St. Paul). Hear a review of the year’s accomplishments, look forward, and elect new members to the board of directors. Take this opportunity to learn more about what FNVW is doing and to engage in FNVW’s future.

A five-session course in Quakerism will be led by Paul Landskroener Thurs from Feb 6 – March 6 at 7 pm. at Twin Cities Friends Meeting. Quaker doctrines, worship and ministry, witness and testimonies, and history and organization. Useful to those new to or exploring Friends as well as for long-time Friends who want to know more about Quaker basics. Enrollment limit is 40. To enroll, contact Mary Ann.

The next White Privilege Conference is in Madison, WI from March 26-29. Friends General Conference’s Ministry on Racism program encourages Friends (adults AND for the first time, youth!) in the Midwest to attend. FGC’s pre-registration to give Friends a significant discount to the conference – approximately half off. You must enter the appropriate discount codes when registering to get the discount. To get the code and request overnight hospitality in the Madison area, pre-register through FGC at fgcquaker.org/WPC15 before Feb 24. Watch your inbox for an email from FGC that has information about discount codes and how to use them. After getting the code, go the conference registration page, whiteprivilegeconference.com/registration.html , being sure to follow the instructions provided with your discount code. The roster of all-day institutes (Wed and Sat of the conference) is now available: whiteprivilegeconference.com/pdf/WPC15-Institutes.pdf . Space for institutes is limited. Enrolling in one is part of the registration process (requiring the discount code from FGC.) Most forums that address race focus on the impacts on people of color, leaving white identity normalized and unexplored. The WPC is unique; it shifts this focus onto white people and their socialization. There may be as many as 50 Friends from the upper midwest and another 30-50 from around the U.S. at the conference this year. Going or considering? Tell Pat.

A number of Quaker meetings and yearly meetings in the U.S. have formally minuted their renunciation of the Doctrine of Discovery as one step toward healing the historic trauma between indigenous peoples and European settlers. Sheldon Wolfchild, actor, director, and member of the Lower Sioux Indian community, will present the film, The Doctrine of Discovery, and lead discussion Mon, Feb. 3, 7-9:30 p.m. (gather at 6:45,) Saint Paul Area Council of Churches, 1671 Summit Ave. St. Paul. The film focuses on the religious justification early explorers used to claim lands from indigenous nations and peoples. RSVP to Tom Duke, tduke03(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)earthlink.net, so they can plan for seating and refreshments.

Love Your Planet Comedy Night, a benefit Terry Hokenson has helped organize for Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, will be Sat, Feb 15th, 7 pm, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4201 Sheridan Ave S, Mpls. MNIPL is creating a groundswell of positive action in response to climate change through faith communities in MN. For details, go to mnipl.org or tinyurl.com/jwc86qd .

ISSUES FOR INDIVIDUAL ACTION

Doug, MFM’s representative to Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), has offered to sift through, cherry-pick, condense and send along FCNL Action Alerts to those interested in acting to affect national legislative decisions in a timely way and in line with Quaker values. This is an excellent opportunity to stay informed and protect yourself from ALL the email that FCNL generates. Doug is currently collecting email addresses for those interested. (There will be no fundraising appeals.) Email him with your name and “Add me to the FCNL list.”

From Friends for a Non-Violent World – Syria: Razan Zaitouneh, a prominent nonviolent voice against Assad’s regime, was abducted along with her husband and two fellow activists on Dec 9th. Syria’s Local Coordination Committees (LCC) has demanded the release of all four activists and asked all human rights advocates to join the LCC’s campaign. They also said that the abducted activists “were promoting concepts of nonviolence and civil resistance in Syria even at a time when the regime has violated every possible tenet of human rights. Failure to call for their release is tantamount to failing in all that Human Rights defenders stand for in the call against tyranny.” Call or write to both President Obama (202-456-1111) and Secretary of State John Kerry (202-647-4000) and ask them to exert pressure on the Assad regime and all armed groups to release these activists immediately. FNVW recommends reading the Pax Christi International Statement on the Civil War in Syria.

Iran: Contact Senator Klobuchar (612-727-5220) and Senator Franken (651-221-1016) to oppose increased sanctions against Iran (S.1881.) Even though 60% of the American people support negotiations, there are forces seeking to eliminate the possibility of productive negotiations with Iran. Urge MN Senators to withhold co-sponsorship of S.1881 and delay consideration of new Iran sanctions while negotiations are ongoing. Background information and more at fcnl.org/issues/iran/

OFFICE HOURS
Pat Jones will be in the office Wednesday from 2:00-5:00 and other times Wed, Thurs, Fri. and Sat.
Carolyn VandenDolder, the Administrative Assistant, will be in Wed. afternoon and Fri. Bulletin deadline, noon Thur. Bulletin items can be phoned in to the office, emailed or written and put in the bulletin file of the blue box.